Improvement in electric-telegraph apparatus



FRANK L. POPE.

Improvement in Electric-Telegraph Apparatus. No. 126,486, Patented May7,1872.

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PATENT QFFIGE.

FRANK L. POPE, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRIC-TELEGRAPH APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 126,486, dated May 7,1872.

Specification describing certain Improvements in Electric-TelegraphApparatus, invented by FRANK L. POPE, of Elizabeth, in the county ofUnion and State of New Jersey.

My invention consists of a telegraphic transmitting-key, of the formtechnically called a strap-key, with a sounder having an electromagnetand armature of peculiar construction, and a galvanic battery soconstructed and arranged as to remain in action for a great length oftime, and also capable of being transported or shaken without injury,the whole forming a simple and inexpensive telegraphic apparatus for theuse of persons employed in learning the art of telegraphy, or for shorttelegraphic lines for commercial and other purposes.

In the annexed drawing, Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus,showing the transmitting-key, sounder, and battery, together with theconnecting wires. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the sounder. showing theconstruction of the electro-magnet and its armature. Fig. 3 is a sideelevation of the transmitting-key. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of oneof the elements of the battery, showing its internal arrangement.

A is the base upon which the transmittingkey and sounder are placed, andwhich may be inade of hard wood or other suitable material. B, Figs. 1and 3, is a strap of sheet metal, preferably of brass, secured to thebase at its rear end by means of a screw, 0, and having a bend at D,which acts as a spring to prevent the platina point e from coming incontact with the anvil cl when the apparatus is in its normal position,as shown in the drawing. A screw, F, provided with a lock-nut, f, is

-mounted upon a metallic standard, G, and is provided at its lowerextremity with a platinatipped point. A corresponding platina point, 0,upon the upper surface of the strap B, is kept in contact with the pointof the screw F by the elasticity of the said strap at the point D. Itwill therefore be understood that an electric current entering the strapB by means of a wire attached to the binding-post 2 upon the said strap,will pass through the point 0 and screw Fto the standard G; but if thestrap be depressed by the finger of the operator acting upon the knob E,the contact at 0 will be broken, and another contact established betweenthe point e and the anvil d, to which the electric current from 2 willnow be directed. When the finger of the operator is withdrawn thecontact between 6 and d will be broken, and that between 0 and F againrestored, by means of the elasticity of the strap B. H, Figs. 1 and 2,is an electromagnetic helix, of the ordinary form and construction,inclosing a cylindrical soft-iron core, as clearly shown by the dottedlines. The lower end of this cylindrical core is screwed into an angularsoft-iron bar, I, which is secured in any suitable manner to the base A.A soft-iron armature, J, is pivoted to the upper extremity of the bar Iby means of screws P P or in any other suitable manner, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2. The armature J is by this means placed in magneticcontact with the soft-iron bar I. A bar or lever, K, composed of somesuitable non-magnetic metalsuch as brass, for exampleis firmly attachedto the armature J, as shown in the drawing, so as to partake with it inits movements. The armature J and its attached bar or lever K arecapable of a vertical movement upon the screws P P as a center, thismovement being limited in either direction by the sounding-posts L or M.The stroke or movement of the lever K is adjustable by means of thescrew k. The downward motion of the lever K is caused by the attractionof the core of the electromagnetic helix H exerted upon the armature J,and its upward motion by the action of the retractile spring 0 when theaction of the electro-maguet ceases. The tension of the spring 0 may beregulated by any suitable device, such, for instance, as that shown at Nin Fig. 2. This arrangement of an electro-magnet, armature, lever,retractile spring, and sounding-posts, is technically termed a sounder.The lever K, in its vibrations alternately striking upon the postsLandM, produces sounds which may be made to convey an intelligible meaningto a person skilled in the art of telegraphy. It, Figs. 1 and 4, is acylindrical glass jar open at the top. At the bottom of the jar R isplaced a circular disk of sheetdead, N. Upon this is placed a quantityof sulphate of copper in the form of crystals V, and above this a disk,which may be made of felt, cloth, leather, paper, or other suitableporous material. Above this is placed a layer of some substance capableof being permeated by a liquid, such as sand or common sawdust, forexample. This material is represented by the letter Y, and upon it restsa circular zinc plate, Z. It is not essential that the plate W becomposed of lead, as iron, copper, or other metals may be substituted ifnecessary or preferable. A wire, X, covered with a suitable insulatingcoating, is attached to the plate or disk W, and projects upward out ofthe jar, as shown in Fig. 4.

The arrangement last described forms a complete galvanic element whensaturated with a solution of sulphate of zinc, the plate Z form ing thenegative and the plateW the positive pole of the said element. Anyrequired number of these elements may be connected in series, theprojecting wire X being attached to the zinc Z of the next succeedingelement by means of the flat-headed screw S, Fig. 4. This mode ofattachment is much more simple and less costly than the binding-screwusually employed for this purpose, and is equally convenient and secure.

In Fig. 1 two elements are thus shown connected in series.

In Fig. 1 the key, sounder, and battery are shown with theconnecting-wires properly arranged. The line-wire leading to the distantstation is attached to the binding-post 2. The wire leading to the earthis attached to the binding-post 4, and the wire X from the battery isalso connected to the earth. The opposite pole of the battery isconnected with the post M at 1, and also with the anvil d, Fig. 3, bymeans of a wire running from M underneath the base, as indicated by thedotted line '6 in Fig. 1. The binding-post 4 is also connected by thewire 5 through the helix H, and wire 7 to the standard G.

When the key B is depressed a circuit is formed from the zinc pole ofthe battery at S, through 1 and 6, to the anvil d, point 0, key or strapB, and binding-post 2, and thence over the line to the distant station,returning by the earth in a well-known manner to the point 3, and thenceto the opposite pole of the battery X. When the key is in its normalposition a current from the distant station entering the binding-post 2will pass through the key or strap B, point 0, screw F, standard G, wire7 helix H, wire 5, and screw 4, to the earth. Thus the electro-magnetichelix H is traversed only by received, and not by transmitted, currents.

The mode of transmitting communications by means of this apparatus,being well understood by those skilled in the art, needs no explanation.

I do not claim the arrangement of the helix H and its core in relationto the bar I and armature J, as I am aware this is not new; nor do Iclaim distinctively the key or strap B and its appurtenances, asdescribed. I am furthermore aware that the arrangement of the differentparts of a galvanic element, substantially as hereinbefore described,has heretofore been employed; but

1 claim as my invention- The combination of the helix H, angular bar I,and armature J, arranged, substantially as described, with the lever orbar K and sounding-posts L and M, the whole combined, arranged, andoperated substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

FRANK L. POPE.

Witnesses:

J. N. ASHLEY, J. E. GRIFFITH.

